Building-construction unit.



W. C. SCHNABEL.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION UNIT. APPLICATION mm runs. 191:.

Patented Dec. 11, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

311mm I'M 'w. c. SCHNABELY BUILDING CONSTRUCTION UNIT..' 1,250,031.

APPLICATLON FILED IIAYZB. 19H.

, Patented Dec. 11, 1917. l

2 S HEETSSHEET 2.

WILLIAM c. scmunnn, or sALrmonn, MARYLAND,

1 nmnnmo-consrnoc'rron um'r.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. SCHNA- BEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements m Building-Construction Units, of which the.

following is a specification.

This invention relates to building construction in general and pertains particularly to a unit system of roofing and roofing support in which the several units are forme of balanced truss and support members.

One object of the invention is to provide a self balancing lightweight truss and truss support structure which is particularly adapted for use in roof construction, bridge construction, and other uses where by'a simple multiplication of units any desired area struction WhlOh may be quickly and easily or type 0 root may he obtained.

Another object of he invention is to proarmories and storehouses.

A further objectof the invention is to provide a light weight unit for roof con-.

erected and which may be supplemented'by the fastening thereto of addit onal units.

A further object of the invention is to prlovide a type of construction unit of the ock-down variety which shalllbe desirable for a great number of.=possib1e-; uses: and which should have interchangeable. parts and be carried in stock inlarge numbers for immediate distribution and erection.

The invention provides aninherently bala'nced truss and post or column unit formed" N of light weight structural material." The unit includes a truss member, preferablyof the bow and strin type, supported by a post or column. scribed herein the truss members have di a'gonal bracing members arranged in triangles, but vertical or other bracing means may be used. This truss member is end ported' by the column or post at the mid e of the topichord or string. This construction, by balancing the truss about the sup- :two-unitsof area arranged side by side.

porting column greatly reduces the stresses resulting from t itself'and also the stresses the slope of the roof orthe inclination of Specification of Letters Patent.

'line to increase thewidth.

illustrated and, de-

e weight of the structure resulting from I 1 a plied loads. B'y rotation of the-truss on i t e post x 56 the truss to the vertical may .be

changed'without altering the design of the unit, dlfi'erent length tie rods and adjust- Patented Dec. 11, 1917.

Application filed Hay 26,1917, serial no. 171,072.

'mentof the supporting means between the post and truss being the only changes necessary. The construction provides. for} two unlts to each area of roof and. a plurality of connecting members or purlins loining the parallel trusses. When it is deslred to add additional units of roofing surface it is necessary merelyto add oneadditional truss and support unit and connect the same to "the adjacent truss by means of the purlins. The parts of the'unitmay be of any size and the space between the columns or posts is governed by the length of the purlins to be used. The, angle of the truss with respect to the supporting column is governed by the use of dlfi'erent leugthtie rods ex- I tending from the column or post to, the truss I member oneither side of'the point of supvide a light weight-balanced structure particularly adapted for use in theconstruction of hangars for aeroplanes, sea-plane sheds,

port. If it is desired to use the units as ridge trusses for the conveyin of large bodies of troops, the purlins and t e straig side of the truss member ma be used as the Fig 1* represents diagrammatically a unitcon'structionarranged to-form a ouble pitchedroofhavinga two span width.

plan view of the structure shown in F i 1.

, Fig. 2 shows a construction arrange as that described in Fig. "1, but having an ex- .tra unit added to eaehside ofthe centerh ng momto'r type roof with the central unit sections raised and havin longer columns than the columns of thesi e section.

Fig. 4 shows the unit construction as ada ted to one type ofi'fsaw-teothed roof. 5

1g. 4! shows an adaptation for a difierent ofsaw-toothed roof. l

Fi '3, shows: an arrangement type ig. 5'is an enlarged viewlof the column and truss unit.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on the line 6- 6'of Fig. .5. v

lI ig. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing ion .Fig. 8 is a side view of an adaptation of the truss member for bridge constructionf.

rings 1 rep resents a supporting column or post formed of vertical members 1 and 1", shown as channel members, arranged web to web and of light angle material arranged in parallel lengths and designed preferably as a bow an string type. The upper and straight '7 side or chord of the truss is formed of the angle members 3 and 4. The lower side or how of the truss is correspondingly formed of two angles, members 5 and-lts complementary part, not illustrated. The ends of the members 3 and 4, and 5-'and its complementary members are joined by suitable plate members 6 commonly known as gusset plates. Diagonal bracing members 7 extend between the parts 3 and 4 and the lower side 5 and are fastened to suitable gusset plates 8 fastened between the upper angle members 3 and 4 and'between the. member 5 and its complementary angle member. plete truss member 2 is mounted on the column 1 in'the following manner. Angle iron biacliets' 9 are fastened to the adjacent web faces of the vertical members 1 and 1 as illustrated in Fig. 6. .At approximately the middle point of the u per side of thetruss 2 a gusset plate 10 is astened between .the angle members 3 and 4. This gusset plate projects downwardly and carries two aterally extending angle members 11 which are ada ted to rest on and to be fastened to the ang e members 9 carried by the vertical members of the ost. The tie rods 12 and 13 extend from t e gusset plates 14 carried by the lower side of the truss to the vertical members of the column 1.

All fastenings between the truss and the column are deslgned to be made by means of bolts andnuts and not by rivets so that the structure will be easily torn down and moved from place to place for. reconstruction. It

will be clear that the inclinationpf the truss on the column may be varied b using the tie rods 12 and'13 of difierent engths.

In completing one unit section of roof area it is necessary to have two truss and column units arranged parallel and to connect the same. by a plurality of purlin members 15 formed of' channel material and which are adapted to rest on the upper surfaces of the truss members 3 and 4 of the truss 2 and to be fastened by means. ofsmall angle mem' bars 16. Where a plurality of units of area are desired, each additiona unitof area may be had by adding one extra, truss and colilmn unit and uniting the-same with the other .units by'means ofadditional purlin mem here 15. In the latter case the purlins 15 should rest on and terminate on the ad- The truss mem- The com- 1 is required between the vertical supporting columns, as may be the easewhere the structure is to be used for an aeroplane hangar, it is advisable to insert between adjacent columns atruss member arranged in a vertical plane so that the structure may berigid and the weight of the entire roof may becarried by the longitudinal truss which takes the place of intermediate columns and makes it unnecessary to place any great strain on the connecting purlins. In the types of construction in which the units of area are built end to end as shown in Figs. 1, 1, 2 and 3, the connections v between the ends of the truss members may be made by means of a pin or bolt so as toprov'ide a hinged joint or ma be made rigid by means of a plurality of The units may be used to advantage for providing a,housing which 'may be quickly erected for quarters for large bodies iof troops. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the units may be used for light bridge construction, the purlin members being used as floor stringers. Throughout the construction describedthe width or length of the units of area may be re lated at will by the simple introduction 0 of different length parts in individual units.

The construction provides combinations possible by using any number of units which are identical and therefore interchangeable. Chan es in material and size of the parts may e made without de artin scope of the invention. Tlie pur ins are not necessarily made of channel members but may be made of other forms of steel or of wood. The invention includes the covering for the structure which may be made of plain sheets of material or of corrugatedfastening means between thepost and the truss, connected to the truss at a point spaced from said post, and connected to the post at a point below said truss.

I 2. balanced truss and support structure comprising two, vertical support members spaced apart and, constituting a- 0st, a truss member lyin between said vert cal support members an extending laterally to either olts and a gusset plate.

from the.

additional units or the use side thereof and fastened to and balanced on said post at a point above the center of gravity of the truss, connective fastening means between adjacent faces of said vertical members holding said truss to said post, and

a lateral tie rod-beneath said truss and on g each side of said post, said tie rods being connected to said truss at a point spaced laterally from said post and connected to said post at a, oint below said truss, 3. A ba anced truss and support structure comprising two vertical support members spaced apart and constituting a post, a truss member fastened to and balanced on said post and extending between the vertical members of said post laterally on either side thereof, connective means fastening said truss to said post comprising a lateral support member on each adjacent face of sa d vertical support members, a central vertical web member carried 'b said truss at thecenter of the upper side t ereof, connecting means between said vertical support members for fastening said web member to said vertical support means, and a lateral tie rod beneath said: truss and on each sideof said post, each rod being connected to said truss at'apoint spaced terally from said 0st andconnected to said post at a point below said truss.

4. A balanced truss and support structure comprising two vertical channel members 5. A balanced trussand support structure comprising two vertical channel members spaced apart and constitutin a post, a truss member fastened to and be anced on said postfand extending laterally between said vertical members and on either side thereof, connecting means fastening said truss to said vertical members comprising a lateral su port member on each adjacent face of'said vertical members, a central vertical plate member carried by said trussin the central upper part thereof, connecting, means fasten- ,ing said plate members to said lateral su port members on the adjacent faces'of said vertical members, and a lateral tie rod neath saiditruss and on each side of said post, eaeh rod being connectedto said truss at a polnt spaced l'aterally from saidpos't and connected tosaid post at appojintibelow saidtruss.

6. A building construction unit ing two self-balanced members, each consisting of a balanced truss and support struc ture comprising two vertical support memsaid post at a point adjacent the upper side 7 of said truss and extending between said vertical support members and laterally on either side thereof, and fastening means between said vertical members connecting said truss to said'post, a lateral tie rod beneath said truss and on each side of said post, each rod being connected to said truss at a point spaced laterally from said post and connected to said post at a point below saidtruss, and a plurality of horizontal and parallel connecting members fastened to and extending between said truss members.

7. A building construction unit comprising two self-balanced members, each comprising two vertical support members spaced apart and constituting a post, a truss mem ber fastened to and balanced on said post at a point adjacent the upper side of said truss and extending between said two vertical support members and, laterally on either. side thereof, and means for fixedly fastening said truss to said vertical support members, a lateral tie rod beneath saidtruss and on each side of said post, each rod be-' ing connected to said truss at a point spaced laterally from said post and connected to said post at a point below said truss, and

a plurality of horizontal and parallel connecting members fastened to said truss members and extending between the same.

8. In a buildin construction system, a plurality. of selfalanced members, each comprising two vertical support members spaced apart and constituting a post, a truss member 'fastenedto and balanced on said post at a point adjacent the upper side of said truss and extending between said two vertical support members and laterally on either side thereof, means for fixedly fastening said truss to said post, a lateral .tie rod beneath said truss and on each side of said post,'each rod being connected to said.-

truss at a point spaced laterally from said post and connected to said post at a point below said? truss, and a plurality of hori a zontal and. arallel connecting members fasten'edto and extending between said truss members, eaeh connecting member -extendng to'and' terminating at the center of the uppersurface of the members to which it-1s connected l 9. In a building construction system, a

knock-down roof and roof support structure comprlsin-g'a plurality of supporting posts having two vertical members spaced apart,

a 'truss member mounted between said vertical members and at a point adjacentthe upper side of said truss member and balanced. I on each supporting post, alateral tie rod,

beneath said truss and on eachsideef post, each rod being connected to said truss a at a point spaced laterally 'from' said post and connected to' s'aid post at a point below said truss,. and a plurality of parallel connecting pi rlins fastened to adjacent truss members, each adjacent pair of supporting posts, trusses and connecting purlins con-' -stituting a unit of area, additional units of 1 area being provided by each additionalpost, truss and connecting purlins. I a i I '10; A balanced truss and supportstrucr.

. ture comprising a supporting post having its upper portion comprising) two upwardly ers positionedv projecting supporting mem apart, a truss member between .said vertical j supporting members and extending laterally to either side of the same and fastened to and balanced on said" post at substantially the middle point of the upper side of said truss, andlateral fastening means between the post and the truss, connected to the truss at a point spaced from said post, and con-.

post, said tie rods being post and connected to said nected to the post ata points below said truss. v

11. A-balanced truss and support'structure comprising a supporting post having its upper portion comprising two upwardly pro ecting; support members positioned apart, a truss member lying between said vertical support members andextending laterally to either side thereof and fastened sto and balanced) on said post at a point above the center of gravity of the truss, conneotive fastening means between-adjacent faces of said vertical members holding said truss to said post, and a lateral tie rod beneath said truss and on each side of said connected to said aterally from said post at a point truss at a point spaced below said truss.

In testimony'whereof I have hereunto set my hand. I

'WILLIAM C. SCHN'ABEL. 

